K-State Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports: 2004 -
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/2097/4
This is the collection for doctoral dissertations and masters theses and reports submitted electronically by K-State students. Electronic submission of doctoral dissertations was required beginning Fall semester 2006. Electronic submission for masters theses and reports was required beginning Fall 2007. The collection also contains some dissertations, theses, and reports from the years 2004 and 2005 that were submitted during a pilot test project. Some items before 2004 have been digitized and are available in K-State Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Reports: pre-2004. Check the Library catalog for dissertations, theses, and reports not found in these collections.
All items included in this collection have been approved by the K-State Graduate School. More information can be found on the ETDR Information Page. Items within this collection are protected by U.S. Copyright. Copyright on each item is held by the individual author.
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Item Open Access Use of qualitative and quantitative microbial data to determine if turkey re-hang and post-chill sampling are predictive of Salmonella enterica contamination in ground turkey.(2025) Paredes Rivera, Mariana BeatrizSalmonella is a major foodborne pathogen posing significant economic and public health risks worldwide. Poultry products serve as its primary reservoir, making the consumption of contaminated poultry a leading cause of salmonellosis. To mitigate this risk, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Services (USDA-FSIS) has progressively strengthened the Salmonella Regulatory Framework for Raw Poultry Products since 1996. Currently, industry stakeholders are required to monitor microbial indicators at re-hang and post-chill as a means of assessing processing control. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that Salmonella prevalence in final products, such as ground meat, cannot be reliably predicted from these sampling locations, therefore, the efficacy of re-hang and post-chill sampling assessing Salmonella in ground turkey remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of microbial sampling to measure Salmonella in ground turkey by quantifying microbial indicators and detecting Salmonella at key processing steps: re-hang, post-chill, and grinding. A total of 455 samples were collected from 40 commercial turkey barns at a poultry processing facility (re-hang = 200, post-chill = 200, and grinding = 55 samples). Indicator microorganisms, including Aerobic Plate Counts (APC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), E. coli, and Salmonella were detected and quantified using different methods. Significant differences (P<0.0001) were observed among sampling locations, depicting high levels for all indicator microorganisms at re-hang, a systematic reduction after post-chill, and re-emergence at grinding. Salmonella detection was significantly higher in ground samples (30.97%) compared to re-hang and post-chill samples (6.19% and 3.1% respectively). Furthermore, no relationship (P>0.05) was observed between Salmonella presence and microbial indicators at any sampling location. While strong positive association were identified between re-hang and post-chill indicator counts (P<0.0001), poor linear regressions were observed between re-hang and grinding, as well as post-chill and grinding (P>0.05). These findings suggest that relying solely on microbial indicator quantification is insufficient for risk assessment of final product safety. Process control measures based on indicator microorganisms does not accurately reflect Salmonella contamination in ground turkey, highlighting the need for more robust pathogen-specific detection strategies.Item Open Access A Kunneth theorem for the cyclic homology of A-infinity algebras(2025) Azubuike, HenryThe cyclic homology of a Z/2Z-graded, smooth and proper A-infinity category satisfying the Hodge-to-de-Rham degeneration property carries the structure of a polarized semi-infinite Hodge structure or the so-called EP-structure. Given two A-infinity algebras A and B with the above conditions, we construct a Kunneth map from the tensor product of their cyclic homologies to the cyclic homology of the A-infinity tensor product A ⊗ B and show that it respects the EP-structures. As an application, we show that if A and B are equipped with weak Calabi-Yau structures, then A ⊗ B also inherits a weak Calabi-Yau structure. Also, we show that the Kunneth quasi-isomorphism respects good splittings of the Hodge filtration on A and B compatible with the weak Calabi-Yau structure. Our explicit calculations rely on the combinatorial (tree) description of the tensor product of A-infinity algebras.Item Open Access Counting solutions to diagonal congruences and Diophantine inequalities(2025) Wilson, KathrynThis dissertation will cover three results. Each result has a connection to Waring's problem and the circle method. Throughout, let $p$ be prime, and let $n$, $k$ and $s$ be positive integers. First, let $\Gamma^*(k,p^n)$ be the smallest positive integer $s$ such that for any integers $a_i$ coprime to $p$ and integer $a$, the congruence $$ a_1x_1^k + \cdots + a_sx_s^k \equiv a \pmod {p^n} $$ is solvable in integers $x_i$, with $p \nmid x_i$, $1 \le i \le s$. We prove that for $\varepsilon>0$, $$\Gamma^*(k,p^n) \ll_\varepsilon k^{\frac 1{\phi(t_1)}+\varepsilon},$$ where $t_1$ is the number of nonzero $k$-th powers mod $p$. The estimate is best possible aside from the possible removal of the $\varepsilon$. Next, using a result of Chow, Lindqvist and Prendiville \cite{CLP21}, we establish that for any positive integer $k\geq4$, positive integer $s$ such that $$s\geq\frac{3}{2}k(\log\,k+\log\,\log\,k+2+O(\log\,\log\,k/\log\,k)),$$ prime $p$, integer $a$, and integers $a_i$, with $p\nmid a_i$ for $1\leq i\leq s$, there exists a solution of \[a_1x_1^k+a_2x_2^k+\cdots+a_sx_s^k\equiv a\qquad(\text{mod }p) \] with $1\leq x_i\ll_{k}p^{\frac{1}{k}}$ for $1\leq i\leq s$. Lastly, we will discuss how the Bentkus--Götze--Freeman variant of the Davenport--Heilbronn circle method can be used to study $\mathbb{F}_q[t]$ solutions to inequalities of the form \[\mathrm{ord}(\lambda_1x_1^k+\cdots+\lambda_sx_s^k-\gamma)<\tau\] where constants $\lambda_1,\dots, \lambda_s \in\mathbb{F}_q((1/t))$ satisfy certain conditions. This result is a generalization of the work done by Spencer in \cite{CVS} to count the number of solutions to inequalities of the form \[\mathrm{ord}(\lambda_1x_1^k+\cdots+\lambda_sx_s^k)<\tau.\]Item Open Access An aspect of patriarchal learning environment through the lens of care: A study in rural Pakistan(2025) Khamisani, NelofarThis study explores the life of a participant, Mahnoor Sheikh. She is a teacher making significant contributions to education in the rural area of Village Mohammad Bachal Mahar, located in District Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan. Using a biographical research approach with qualitative methods, this study examines how Mahnoor’s life experiences and challenges within a patriarchal learning environment have shaped her work and achievements for rural educational development. By utilizing primary resources, including her certificates and photographs, and gathering data through interviews with her, the study reveals that she is a role model for others. This research contributes to a broader understanding of the patriarchal learning environment in Sindh, Pakistan, and highlights it through the lens of care by presenting Mahnoor as an example. The findings indicate that a girl or an individual can play a vital role in the development of education, just as Mahnoor did. She brought students, especially girls, into a learning environment, thus playing an effective role in the advancement of rural education. The implications suggest that teachers should prioritize working and living within their communities, as they better understand the needs of local students. This study emphasizes the importance of recognizing females like Mahnoor, who inspire others about the significance of education because rural communities like Village Mohammad Bachal Mahar greatly need it.Item Open Access Rational Catalan combinatorial objects and algorithms(2025) Nelson, GarrettThe Catalan numbers and mathematical objects enumerated by them have been studied since the 1700’s. The study of these objects, related objects, and bijections between them is called Catalan combinatorics. In this thesis, we discuss three areas of Catalan combinatorics. First, we discuss rational parking functions and the Pak-Stanley bijection from rational parking functions to alcoves of the Sommers region. Second, we discuss the combinatorics of the polytope created by taking the convex hull over all vector-parking functions. Last, we discuss planar tanglegrams, and provide an algorithm to generate them uniformly at random. An (m, n)-parking function can be characterized as a function f : [n] → [m] such that the partition obtained by reordering the values of f fits inside a right triangle with legs of length m and n. Recent work by McCammond, Thomas, and Williams define an action of words in [m]n on Rn. They show that rational parking functions are exactly the words that admit fixed points under that action. An (m, n)-invariant set is a set ∆ ⊂ Z such that ∆ + m ⊂ ∆ and ∆ + n ⊂ ∆. In the first part of this thesis we define an action of words in [m]n on m-invariant sets by removing the jth m-generator from ∆. We show this action also characterizes (m, n)-parking functions. Further, we show that each (m, n)-invariant set is fixed by a unique monotone parking function. By relating the actions on Rm and on (m, n)-invariant sets we prove that the set of all the points in Rm that can be fixed by a parking function is a union of points fixed by monotone parking functions. In the case when gcd(m, n) = 1 we characterize the set of periodic points of the action defined on Rm and show that the algorithm conjectured by Gorsky, Mazin, and Vazirani becomes affine periodic and provides an inverse to the Pak-Stanley map. For b = (b1, . . . , bn) ∈ Zn >0, a b-parking function is defined to be a sequence (β1, . . . , βn) of positive integers whose nondecreasing rearrangement β′ 1 ≤ β′ 2 ≤ · · · ≤ β′ n satisfies β′ i ≤ b1 + · · · + bi. The b-parking-function polytope Xn(b) is the convex hull of all b-parking functions of length n in Rn. Geometric properties of Xn(b) were previously explored in the specific case where b = (a, b, b, . . . , b) and were shown to generalize those of the classical parking-function polytope. In the second part of this thesis, we study Xn(b) in full generality. We present a minimal inequality and vertex description for Xn(b), prove it is a generalized permutahedron, and study its h-polynomial. Furthermore, we investigate Xn(b) through the perspectives of building sets and polymatroids, allowing us to identify its combinatorial types and obtain a bound on its combinatorial diameter. A tanglegram consists of two rooted binary trees and a perfect matching between their leaves, and a planar tanglegram is one that admits a layout with no crossings. In the third part of this thesis we show that the problem of generating planar tanglegrams uniformly at random reduces to the corresponding problem for irreducible planar tanglegram layouts, which are known to be in bijection with pairs of disjoint triangulations of a convex polygon. We extend the flip operation on a single triangulation to a flip operation on pairs of disjoint triangulations. Interestingly, the resulting flip graph is both connected and regular, and hence a random walk on this graph converges to the uniform distribution. We also show that the restriction of the flip graph to the pairs with a fixed triangulation in either coordinate is connected and give diameter bounds that are near optimal. Our results furthermore yield new insight into the flip graph of triangulations of a convex n-gon with a geometric interpretation on the associahedron.Item Embargo Advancing nitrogen (N) management in maize: yield response, N nutrition index, and in-season N diagnosis(2025) Lemes Bosche, LeonardoMaize (Zea mays L.) is a vital global crop, supporting billions through food, feed, and industrial products, with nitrogen (N) as a major factor limiting its productivity. To meet the increasing food demand of a growing population, productivity must be balanced with environmental sustainability. In this context, research focused on advancing N management practices is essential to improve maize productivity, address environmental challenges, increase farmer profitability, and reduce the N footprint. This thesis is structured in four chapters (Chapter 1 – General introduction and Chapter 4 – Final remarks), outlining in-season N diagnostics, yield responses and ability of maize to recover from mild N stress. Chapter 2 examines a comprehensive database of ninety-four maize yield to fertilizer N response experiments across eight states in the US Midwest. The analysis focuses on identifying types of yield response to nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) and the key weather and soil factors that drive these patterns. Three distinct yield-NNI relationship types were identified: no response, linear response, and linear-plateau response. The study highlights pre-planting nitrate-N, the Shannon Diversity Index from the late vegetative stage to the end of the season, and cumulative precipitation from V9 to tasseling as critical factors influencing these relationships. Chapter 3 examines various in-season nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies and their effects on key crop response variables, such as crop growth, leaf area, and plant N status during the early stages of growth. It also assesses how these N scenarios affect yield and its components, focusing on the ability of maize to tolerate early season, temporary N deficiencies without yield penalties. The study highlights the potential of maize to recover from N stress with in-season applications as late as V14. These results suggest that a flexible management approach with strategic in-season N applications can mitigate early season N deficiencies and maintain yield, potentially reducing N rates through better synchronization between crop N demand and N supply. The study also highlights the importance of maintaining adequate N levels during grain filling to optimize grain weight and achieve maximum yield. In summary, the key outcomes of this thesis include: 1) the identification of distinct yield-NNI relationship types and their dependence on key weather and soil factors, and 2) the potential of strategic in-season N applications to mitigate early-season N deficiencies, minimize the N footprint, and avoid yield penalties. These findings highlight the potential of timely N management in achieving a balance between optimizing maize grain yield and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.Item Open Access Design of timber-concrete composite floors(2025) Luetje, GeorgeTimber-concrete composite (TCC) floors use composite action to achieve higher strength and longer spans compared to timber structures. This report investigates the design and performance of TCC floors in accordance with published design guides and references. The design methods of the connections between timber and concrete are discussed. The report also compares the design of a typical bay using TCC, concrete, and timber structures. A comparative analysis is performed on the flexural strength, shear strength, deflection, total thickness, and material cost of the three. Results show that TCC floors can achieve similar strengths to the other floors while having a smaller thickness.Item Embargo Comprehensive treatment of strut-and-tie approach across concrete deep beams reinforced with different systems(2025) Alqarni, Ali H.This dissertation investigates the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete deep beams, combining experimental and analytical methodologies to assess the influence of material and geometric variables. The study introduces a matrix truss analysis method for predicting load-deflection behavior at critical stages for different reinforcement materials; conventional steel bars and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars. The method employs the strut and tie model to enhance the accuracy of nodal displacements and load predictions without postulating the nonlinear strain profile. Further, an experimental evaluation explores the effects of concrete strength and steel reinforcement ratios under monotonic loading, highlighting the impact of shear span-to-depth ratios on beam performance. Finally, a parametric analysis employing the strut and tie method, applied to steel-reinforced concrete deep beams, clarifies the relationships among various structural parameters, revealing strong correlations between the characteristics of deep beams and prediction outcomes. This enhances our understanding of deep beam mechanics and contributes to safer, more effective and accurate structural designsItem Open Access Growing connections: exploring hands-on garden programs as a tool for food education and community outreach(2025) Swaney, MadelynnMany Americans are unaware of where their food comes from due to a significant disconnect between the broader population and their foodshed (Deelstra & Girardet 2017). This disconnect leads to uninformed adults and children not being able to identify the origins of food products (Newsela 2017). The rise of industrialized agriculture and the decline in the number of Americans involved in farming has contributed to a growing gap between people and the food production process. Most people rely on grocery stores for their food, and school curriculums often focus on what food is rather than how it is produced. Teaching students about food origins is essential, as it impacts eating decisions and habits which are formed in the early stages of development (Lineberger & Zajicek 2000; McAleese & Rankin 2007). Edible school garden programs offer hands-on opportunities to integrate food and nutrition education into schools, providing diverse and engaging learning experiences through gardening. This report examines the benefits of garden programs for students’s education, health, environmental stewardship, and academic performance. It reviews the literature on urban agriculture, edible school gardens, and various garden program models, including school gardens, university gardens, non-profit initiatives, and Indigenous food systems. To further understand these models, a selection of case studies will be analyzed. Through discussions with stakeholders, case study interviews, and site analysis, a projective design was developed to create a garden design and program for an Indigenous university. The findings inform both the design and development of a garden program, aiming to ensure that all members of the university can enjoy and benefit from the campus garden and greenhouse.Item Open Access Optimizing business growth: The impact of integrated sales and marketing teams with strategic training programs(2025) Wingert-Dudley, ClaireThe synergy between sales and marketing teams plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable and profitable business growth. This thesis explores the strategic benefits of integrating these siloed functions, with a particular focus on the impact of cross-training and collaboration initiatives. Through the analysis of original survey data collected from 150 sales and marketing professionals across various industries, this research examines how structured training programs and sales-marketing alignment influence key performance indicators. Using regression analysis, the study finds that organizations investing in continuous training and fostering interdepartmental collaboration report improvements in profitability, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. While training investment emerged as a statistically significant predictor of positive business outcomes, collaboration showed less direct influence when measured independently. Employee engagement and retention were found to be positively facilitated by job satisfaction, which itself was shaped by the presence of ongoing coaching and regular training touchpoints. The findings underscore the importance of a strategic approach to team integration, suggesting that companies that align their sales and marketing functions improve internal cohesion and overall financial impact. This thesis contributes to a growing body of evidence that collaboration and capability-building are key drivers for long-term growth and competitive advantage.Item Open Access Greening parking lots to decrease stormwater runoff and improve water quality(2025) Kerner, NatalieAs society becomes increasingly more reliant on vehicular transportation, the demand for sufficient storage, or parking lots, continues to grow. To satisfy this demand, property owners and developers commonly budget to maximize space to meet the need for parking during peak rush times. This results in a sweeping stretch of impervious paving, often with many spots left empty. The areas that may come to mind are parking areas for shopping malls and stadiums that are frequently never filled or sit vacant half of the year. The effects of these spaces are significantly damaging to the surrounding environment as they can cause high volumes of runoff and degrade the water quality that is directed downstream. However, these environmental impacts can be reduced through implementing more green infrastructure. Gray infrastructure has historically been more commonly used in directing stormwater using its structural network to quickly move water toward nearby water bodies. Alternatively, green infrastructure is a system that manages stormwater by imitating the natural water cycle. This study aims to explore the different types of green infrastructure, and how they can be implemented in parking lots to best mitigate their environmental impacts. Research into successful existing systems, stormwater runoff quality testing, and precedent studies will all inform a projective design to address stormwater management around Bill Snyder Stadium and Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex at Kansas State University.Item Open Access Examining the Influence of Different New Student Orientation Delivery Methods on Academic Performance and Student Retention(2025) Gerke, HollyOrientation programs are a critical component of the higher education experience, influencing student retention and academic performance. While the positive impact of these programs is well-established, a comprehensive understanding of the factors that optimize their effectiveness remains elusive. This study investigated the impact of two key factors, timing and modality, on student outcomes. The study examined the effects of a scaffolded, just-in-time orientation approach compared to a traditional, single-day format. Additionally, the influence of in-person versus virtual modalities was explored. Academic performance, quantified through grade point average (GPA) and credit completion ratio (CCR), alongside first-to-second-year retention, served as the pivotal outcome measures. Pearson’s chi-square and ANOVA testing were used in this quantitative study to analyze the data. No statistical significance was found when comparing first to second-year retention rates between the scaffolded and traditional orientation programs. It was found that students in the scaffolded program achieved statistically significant higher first and second semester GPAs compared to students who attended the traditional program. No statistical significance was found when analyzing credits completed between the two program cohorts. When looking at orientation modality, in-person versus virtual, statistical significance was found for both increased GPA and higher CCR when students attended in-person programming.Item Open Access A Mathematical Framework for Improving March Madness Models(2025) Jackson, DennisonEvery year, millions of people attempt to predict the outcomes of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament (“March Madness”), often turning to models or team rankings to help inform their decisions. We propose a mathematical framework capable of taking any model that can return a probability that some team i beats some opponent j and returning round-specific win probabilities and expected wins. We illustrate our framework by fitting models to 24 years of historical tournament data using the differences in the teams’ stats, and find they all outperform a traditional seed-based “chalk” model. Two of our best models include an XGBoost model with a median accuracy and total points of 66.67% and 116.5 respectively and an Elastic-Net model with a median accuracy and total points of 73.02% and 115 respectively. We also rank teams using expected wins from the XGBoost model, and find that 22 of the past 25 champions ranked within our top 4, with 11 ranked first. Additionally, we apply our framework to a knapsack bracket competition, which involves optimizing team selection under a cost constraint. The solutions from an Elastic-Net model average nearly 23 wins and capture almost 70% of the maximum achievable win total.Item Open Access Optimizing feed processing parameters and alternative ingredients for enhanced broiler performance and pellet quality(2025) Minson, CarterA sequence of experiments were conducted to optimize and evaluate effects of feed processing parameters and alternative ingredient use on broiler growth performance and pellet quality. When pelleting feed, several pellet mill factors influence the final quality of a pellet, and understanding their interactions is crucial to producing the highest quality product. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of conditioner retention time, conditioning temperature, and mixer added fat inclusion, on the final pellet durability of broiler feed. Exp. 1 analyzed the effects of conditioning temperature and conditioner retention time and Exp. 2 analyzed the effects of mixer added fat inclusion and conditioner retention time on pellet durability. Samples were obtained and pellet durability was measured using the modified tumble box pellet durability index (M-PDI; Exp. 1) and percent pellets surviving the New Holmen Pellet Tester (60 sec; H60-PDI; Exp. 1 & 2). Both experiments were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS v. 9.4 (Cary, NC). In Exp. 1, increasing conditioner retention time from 30 to 90 seconds increased (linear, P < 0.001) M-PDI and H60-PDI. As conditioning temperature increased from 74 to 85℃, there was no difference in H60-PDI but M-PDI improved (P < 0.01). In Exp. 2, there was a fat inclusion ´ conditioner retention time interaction (P = 0.019) for H60-PDI. Increasing conditioner retention time from 30 to 90 sec improved H60-PDI in diets containing 1.5 or 2% fat but not in diets containing 0.5 and 1.0% fat. Overall, these results emphasize the importance of better understanding the effects of changing pelleting process parameters and dietary fat inclusion levels have on pellet durability. When altering processing parameters in feed manufacturing, it is imperative to assess the impact those changes can have on feed quality and broiler growth performance. Therefore, two experiments (Exp. 3 and 4) evaluated the effects of pellet die diameter and pellet fines inclusion on broiler growth performance. Exp. 3 used a 3 x 2 factorial design with 3 pellet die diameters (4.0 mm, 4.8 mm, and 6.4 mm) and 2 fines inclusions (0% and 30%) fed from d 12-47. Exp. 4 used as a 2 x 3 factorial with 2 pellet die diameters (4.8 mm and 6.4 mm) and 3 fines inclusions (0%, 30%, and 60%), fed from d 14-49, with a crumble (4.8 mm or 6.4 mm) being fed from d 0-14. Data were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS v. 9.4 (Cary, NC). In Exp 3., overall growth interactions were observed for both FI (P = 0.015) and BWG (P = 0.013), where fines reduced performance in 4.0 and 4.8 mm pellet diets, but improved FI and BWG with 6.4 mm pellets. In Exp. 4, the 4.8 mm pellet die diameter, increased FI (P = 0.003), BWG (P < 0.001), and improved FCR (P = 0.002) in the starter phase. From d 0-49, increasing fines improved (linearly, P < 0.05) FCR, though no interactions were observed for FI and BWG. These results suggest that while increased fines generally impair broiler growth performance, their inclusion alongside a 6.4 mm pellet may help mitigate the typical negative impacts associated with higher pellet fines. When implementing alternative ingredients into broiler diets, an ingredient in the process of being researched for its use as an alternative ingredient is CoverCress Whole Grain (CCWG). CCWG is a variety of pennycress with low erucic acid and reduced fiber content, was developed as a cover crop. It is designed to be planted in the fall following corn harvest and harvested in the spring before planting soybeans. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of including up to 6% CCWG seed in diets on broiler chicken growth performance over 49 days. Dietary treatments were established using a control basal diet fed over four feeding phases and treatments were allocated as additional inclusion of 2%, 4%, or 6% CCWG added to the diet. On d 12, 28, 39, and 49, birds and feeders were weighed to determine feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality corrected FCR (adj. FCR). At d 0-12, d 0-28, d 0-39, and d 0-49, birds performed below the Cobb 500 objectives for body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. For d 0-12, d 0-28, and d 0-39 increasing CCWG in the diet showed no effect on FI, BWG, FCR, or adj. FCR. For d 0-49, no differences were observed for FI, BWG or FCR. However, birds fed the 6% CCWG in the diet had poorer (P = 0.019) adjusted FCR as compared to broilers fed the 0 and 4% CCWG diets which may have been due to the 6% inclusion finisher diet being less nutrient dense as compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, CCWG can be safely included into broiler diets up to 6% inclusion through 49 days without negatively affecting BWG, FI, and FCR, and up to 4% inclusion to 49 days without negatively impacting adj. FCR.Item Open Access An Empyrean Forge: Designing an in-orbit manufacturing system for starship production(2025) Beckman, JacobCurrent manufacturing and space launches produce several challenges that must be remedied if space exploration is to continue to advance into the new age. By synthesizing a series of case studies and historical research, this paper has developed a system of operations and the beginnings of physical models of a process known as the Empyrean Forge (the “Forge”). By implementing a three-step chain, the Empyrean Forge strives to create a fully-automated, in-situ, spacecraft manufacturing protocol. The goal of this research is to provide the basis for this protocol by combining the harvesting of raw materials from celestial bodies, refining that material into feedstock, and then using that feedstock to print all components of a spacecraft equitable to or superior to the modern space shuttle. In doing so, financial, environmental, and manufacturing inefficiencies are resolved (or at least lessened), which would allow for faster and more effective development as the industry proceeds to enter Space 4.0.Item Embargo Advancing mungbean productivity: agronomic management practices across a global database and yield critical period determination(2025) da Silva Volpato, NataliaLegume crops such as mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) offer significant nutritional and agronomic benefits, particularly in developing regions. Mungbean is a pulse crop with high protein content (21–33%) and essential micronutrients such as iron and zinc, making it a valuable component of plant-based diets. In addition, its bioactive compounds contribute to various health benefits. Agronomically, mungbean's short life cycle (70-80 days), nitrogen-fixing ability, and positive rotation effects on cereals make it a promising crop for sustainable farming systems. Despite its advantages, optimizing mungbean production is essential to improve yield stability and meet increasing global demand. This study aims to enhance mungbean yield and quality by developing a global dataset to identify high-performing management strategies and fill knowledge gaps. In addition, understanding the physiological processes of the crop is critical to reducing yield variability. Therefore, this research also investigates the critical period for seed yield formation and the key yield components that contribute to yield variation. By integrating agronomic and physiological knowledge, this study provides valuable recommendations for optimizing mungbean production, ultimately contributing to global food security and sustainable agricultural practices.Item Open Access Ensuring safety in soy: A review of chlorpyrifos detection and mitigation for consumer confidence(2025) Ziemann-Bolinske, ShaundraWith growing consumer interest in food production and processing, understanding how agricultural practices balance profitability with food safety is crucial. The agricultural industry utilizes various methods to ensure crop success, including pesticide use. Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a widely used pesticide, remains under regulatory scrutiny due to concerns about its safety and environmental impact. After alternating between federal approvals and restrictions, the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorized CPF for use on soybeans in February 2024. This shifting regulatory stance highlights the need to accurately identify CPF residues on soybeans and evaluate both natural and processing mitigation factors to reduce their presence. This report evaluates the efficacy of removing chlorpyrifos by naturally occurring environmental factors, such as storage time and sunlight exposure, as well as interventive processes—washing with water, ultrasound (ULS), ozone (O3), heat application, and cold plasma treatment—on the food safety of soybeans. Additionally, the importance of a multi-step approach is emphasized for effectively reducing CPF residues, as storage or heat processing alone often do not meet safety thresholds. Cold plasma (CP) resulted in surface damage to the beans, rendering the process unacceptable, although faster to reach tolerance levels than O3. While washing and O3 treatments demonstrated moderate success, a combination of ULS and O3 treatments demonstrated synergistic effects in reducing CPF concentrations on soybeans.Item Open Access A Midwest district: Impact of preferred name policies and procedures on LGBTQIA2S+ educators(2025) Torres-Wigton, LisaDuring 2020-2021 the Midwest District joined many school districts across the United States (Eckes, S., 2020; Elassar, A., 2022; Kopels, S., 2023) in determining how to serve the needs of their transgender and nonbinary students with the use of preferred names and/or pronouns. The policies and procedures delivered to the Midwest District’s staff members provided revealed some personal opinions regarding people within the LGBTQIA2S+ community [(L)esbian, (G)ay, (B)isexual, (T)ransgender, (Q)ueer/(Q)uestioning, (I)ntersexual, (A)sexual/(A)romantic/(A)gender, (2)Two-Spirited, (+) other genders/identities undefined] and the lack of protection provided by the Midwest District to those staff members. Despite some well-intentioned questioning regarding gender expression and identity, what was unintentionally revealed was a consistent bias towards the LGBTQIA2S+ community as a whole. This case study seeks to inform the existing body of research on how teachers within the LGBTQIA2S+ community working in the Midwest District perceive not only the effect of their policies and procedures, but whether they align of the Midwest District’s values. This research is a qualitative case study of six interviews that focused on five questions. The participants were employed at the Midwest District between 2020-2021 school year and identify LGBTQIA2S+. There were six participants: three teachers (1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high school) and three administrators (2 primary and 1 secondary). After the interviews, analytic memo-ing, open coding, and magnitude coding revealed three concepts that are alike in both groups of participants: (sense of respect, training, policies) and that while both teachers and administrators feel supported and respected, there are elements within the Midwest District’s that are discriminatory.Item Open Access Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Delivery in Heart Failure and Breast Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Insights(2025) Weber, RamonaThe onset of exercise requires precise cardiovascular adjustments to ensure adequate skeletal muscle oxygen delivery (Q̇O2) to meet the metabolic demands (V̇O2) of contractions. A hallmark of exercise intolerance is reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability (e.g. endothelial dysfunction) and Q̇O2-to-V̇O2 mismatch that effectively reduces the partial pressure gradient for O2 diffusion across the interstitial space (PO2is) and disrupts the intracellular milieu. This presents significant quandaries for individuals diagnosed with heart failure (HF) and breast cancer (BC), both of which are malignancies associated with O2 transport dysfunction and are compounded with limited therapeutic options available to support exercise tolerance. With this, Chapter 2 examines the effects of targeting downstream of NO dysfunction (via soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) stimulator) to improve vascular NO-sensitivity, exercise tolerance and PO2is during contractions in HF rats. Evidence suggests that there is a bi-directional relationship between HF and BC, with each condition predisposing individuals to the other. While in HF, central O2 transport dysfunction largely precedes and promotes O2 transport limitations, BC, as an isolated condition, does not directly impact cardiac function. Therefore, in Chapter 3 we investigated the impact of tumor-bearing alone on maximal O2 uptake during exercise (V̇O2max) in BC rats. Despite no change in V̇O₂max before and after tumor growth, tumor-bearing BC rats had a reduced exercise economy, suggesting that peripheral O₂ transport limitations likely have a role in limiting sustained exercise performance. In Chapter 4, we measured the resting and contracting PO2is in BC rats and to what extent NO-signaling has in control over PO2is kinetics. We found that BC rats displayed decreased endothelium-independent vasodilation coupled with an increased reliance on basal NO production in comparison to healthy controls. Collectively, these findings highlight the critical role that NO has in regulating Q̇O₂-to-V̇O₂ matching in both HF and BC.Item Open Access Nature’s touch: engaging children’s sensory learning and development through nature-based play(2025) Coulter, MichaelaFull of stimulating elements, nature provides a dynamic setting where children engage all of their senses and deepen their understanding of the world. Play is essential to a child’s physical, cognitive, and social development, and playing in nature simultaneously engages a child’s sensory learning and development. By incorporating natural elements into early childhood spaces, children become more attuned to themselves, others, and the environment around them. Designing outdoor play spaces that engage all of their senses in early childhood enhances their cognitive and physical development, social skills, emotional regulation, and creativity. The goal of this research design is to explore the landscape architect’s role in creating play environments that nurture sensory development in early childhood. The primary outcome from the research project will be a projective design for the Kansas State University Center for Child Development (CCD), focused on enhancing sensory experiences in a nature-based environment for young children. Serving the K-State and Manhattan communities, the CCD provides child care and a rich learning environment, prioritizing nature-based learning and exploration through its evidence-based practices. To inform this design, an in-depth literary review, analysis of existing nature-based play guidelines, and exploration of built works was conducted, providing design considerations for engaging sensory integration patterns and the seven main senses in a nature-based play environment. Beyond the CCD, this project sought to highlight the importance of sensory-rich play in early childhood and provide a framework to help landscape architects when designing similar settings.
